Drawbar



June 6, 1939. I E. RODEMEYER 2,161,387

DRAWBAR Filed July 5, 19s? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor a. ZZWM Zad'emeiyer 8 v By i w A iiorneys Patented June 6, 1939 PATENT OFFICE DRAWBAR 4 Edward Rodemeyer, Hampton, Iowa eAppli cation u y 3, 1937, Serial No. 151,931

vide an improved foldable draw bar which will 7 be light in weight and can be readily folded so as to permit passage of the draw bar through a gate or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved connection between the center section and the end sections of the draw bar as will not only facilitate the folding of the end sections relative to the intermediate section of the draw bar but will also serve to shorten the turn of the draw bar while the same is being used for dragging the harrows over the field being worked upon.

The invention, together with its objects and advantages, will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the draw bar in extended position.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the draw bar, but in a folded position.

Figure '3 is a plan view of the draw bar per se and illustrating the manner in which an end section of the draw bar operates when the same is negotiating a turn.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary edge elevational view of a portion of the intermediate section of the draw bar and one end section, showing the pivotal connection between said sections.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the intermediate section of the draw bar.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating a slightly modified form of end section. Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, it will be seen that in the preferred embodiment thereof my improved draw bar comprises an intermediate, section 5 and longitudinally tapering end sections 66.

At the respective opposite ends thereof the intermediate draw bar section 5 is bifurcated to provide at each of said ends a pair of coextensive, apertured ears '!---'I between which the largest end of an'end draw bar section 6 is accommodated and is pivoted through the medium of a rivet or other suitable pivot element 8.

Also, extending forwardly from the intermediate draw bar section 5 at each end thereof is a rigid arm 9 braced with respect to the draw bar section 5 through the medium of a diagonal brace I0.

Each arm 9 at the free end thereof has an- 2 Claims. (01.: 55:84)

heered th r o a uita e lene e chain the free end of which is adapted to be engaged with an eye Z on the free end of a draw bar end section lj in a manner to retain the draw bar end s i n .6 in o tudinal al m n w h .5 terniediate draw bar section 5, at least to the extent of preventing rotative movement of an end draw bar section in a direction rearwardly with respect to the intermediate draw bar section 5.

As shown in Figure 3, the intermediate draw 10 bar section 5 may be provided with a single hitch l3, or as suggested in Figure 1, with two, or as otherwise known as a double hitch I l-l4.

At the rear edge thereof the intermediate draw bar section 5 is provided with a suitable arrangement of eye bolts I5, whereby two harrows I6 may be suitably coupled thereto.

The intermediate draw bar 5 at the ends thereof, and the end draw bar sections 6 have their free ends also provided with eye bolts l5a, whereby endmost harrows I! may be coupled thereto in a manner clearly shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 2, when it is desired to fold the draw bar, as may be required when passage is to be made through a gateway or the like, chains H are disconnected from the end sections 6, while the harrows I! are uncoupled from the eye bolts l5a on the intermediate draw bar section 5.

The draw bar sections 6 are then swung rearwardly to a position at right angles to the intermediate draw bar section 5 and the endmost harrows I! are aligned with the intermediate harrows l6 and at their inner sides suitably coupled to the inner sides of the intermediate harrows I6, as clearly shown in Figure 2. Thus, the draw bar and harrow assembly is so laterally reduced as to permit passageof the same through a gateway or the like.

It will also be apparent that with this draw bar, when a turn is being negotiated, the draw bar sections are permitted to swing relative to one another, thus shortening the turn being made.

A salient feature of the present invention is in having the end sections 6 of the draw bar swingable in a horizontal plane as distinguished from vertical swinging movement, since where the end sections swing vertically, as is now the case with known foldable draw bars, the endmost harrows must be placed upon the intermediate harrows instead of arranged in alignment therewith, as is permitted where the end sections, in accordance with the present invention,. are swingable on horizontal planes.

As shown in Figure 6, if desired, each end section, that end. section in Figure 6 being indicated by the reference numeral 6a may be formed from a single length of strap iron folded upon itself intermediate the ends with the terminals of the strap straddling one end of the intermediate section 511 and pivoted to the said end of the section 5a through the medium of a pivot bolt 8a.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility and advantages of my draw bar will be had without a more detailed deharrows to the draw bar sections and also for coupling the outermost harrows to the intermediate harrows and in alignment with the in termediate harrows when the end draw bar sections are folded rearwardly to a position substantially at right angles to the intermediate draw bar section.

2. A device of the class described comprising a draw-bar including an intermediate section and end sections hingedly connected to the ends thereof for swinging movement at right angles thereto, intermediate harrows connected to the intermediate section, a pair of outer harrows, means connecting one side of said outer harrows to the free end portions of the end sections, and inter-engaging means on the inner sides of said outer harrows and the end portions of the intermediate section for connecting the outer harrows thereto when the draw-bar sections are aligned and for connecting said outer harrows to the inner harrows in longitudinal alignment therewith when the outer sections are at substantially right angles to the intermediate section.

EDWARD RODEMEYER. 

